Spinal fixation system

Abstract

An alignment assembly for aligning and positioning an interbody plate over a disc space in between two adjacent vertebrae, the assembly including: a fastener having a long axis and a plate engagement including opposed wings converging towards the axis; and a mate for the fastener configured to receive the fastener thereover at a first end and having a releasable connector with a releasable attachment below the first end; wherein the fastener is releasably secured to the mate for the fastener as it moves therealong; and wherein during use the opposed wings contact one or more edges of an aligning aperture of the interbody plate thereby bringing the interbody plate into alignment with the fastener.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An alignment assembly for aligning and positioning an interbody plate over a disc space in between two adjacent vertebrae, the assembly comprising:
 a fastener having a long axis and a plate engagement comprising opposed wings converging towards said long axis; and   a mate for the fastener configured to receive the fastener thereover at a first end and having a releasable connector with a releasable attachment below the first end;   wherein the fastener is releasably secured to the mate for the fastener as it moves therealong; and   wherein during use, the opposed wings contact one or more edges of an aligning aperture of the interbody plate, thereby bringing the interbody plate into alignment with the fastener.   
     
     
         2 . The alignment assembly of  claim 1  wherein the fastener includes an upper body having a driver engagement. 
     
     
         3 . The alignment assembly of  claim 1  wherein the fastener comprises a lower body having the plate engagement. 
     
     
         4 . The alignment assembly of  claim 1  wherein said wings comprise respective plate engaging surfaces such that, in response to one of said wings engaging with a front and/or rear wall forming said edges of the aligning aperture in the plate, the plate is configured to shift in a direction towards the other of said wings. 
     
     
         5 . The alignment assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mate for the fastener comprises a body having two sides that are substantially flat. 
     
     
         6 . The alignment assembly of  claim 5  wherein a distance between the two sides is substantially the same as a distance between side walls in the aligning aperture of the plate. 
     
     
         7 . The alignment assembly of  claim 5  wherein the body of the mate for the fastener includes an aperture therethrough configured to receive the releasable connector. 
     
     
         8 . The alignment assembly of  claim 7  wherein the releasable connector includes a shaft that is connected between a releasable attachment and a head. 
     
     
         9 . The alignment assembly of  claim 8  wherein the head is located above the body of the mate for the fastener. 
     
     
         10 . The alignment assembly of  claim 1  further comprising the interbody plate formed with the aligning aperture for receiving the mate for the fastener therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . The alignment assembly of  claim 10  wherein the plate comprises a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture and/or a fourth aperture located about the aligning aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The alignment assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an implant configured to be received between adjacent vertebrae and to releasably connect with the releasable connector. 
     
     
         13 . A spinal fixation assembly comprising the alignment assembly of  claim 11  wherein the implant is in the form of a spinal cage.